I'm looking for information about WWII naval communication protocols for vessels on patrol.

Chris,

You may find the sources to be of interest: Radio Research Paper - World War 2 Naval Operations

This source has several links that may be of use: Navy Documents

This source may also be of interest: Howeth: Table of Contents (1963)

Dear Mr. Kraska,

Thank you for posting your question to the History Hub.

A search of the National Archives Catalog offers several series that might contain information relevant to your research. For example, the series Communications Instructions and Regulations Files, 1915-1959, which is part of Record Group 38: Records of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations [OCNO], may be of interest to you. Additionally, this list of series created by the Office of the Director of the Communications Division might also contain useful information.

These records are in the custody of the Textual Reference Branch at the National Archives at College Park, Maryland (Archives II). You can contact them directly with any questions about these and other World War II-era Navy Records at Archives2reference@nara.gov.

Good luck with your ongoing search, and thank you, again, for sharing your question with the History Hub.

Chris,

An answer to your question depends upon the type of patrol.  If you are talking about naval forces defending a locality, the communications protocols would be promulgated by the Sea Frontier commander or the commandant of the local naval district.  So for local Navy patrol vessels in Hawaii, the Commandant, 14th Naval District would have established communication policies with local commanders being given some latitude in modifying those instructions allowing for local conditions.

Now if you are talking about  other naval combatants assigned to major operational commands, communications protocols would be promulgated in the communications annex to the governing operations order, modified by subordinate commands as necessary.

Submarines were a special case.  Given the independent nature of submarine operations, the boats usually maintained radio silence on patrol until their presence was made known by "flaming datum" (sinkings of enemy ships). Communications instructions would have been provided by Commander Submarines Pacific (COMSUBPAC) or his Atlantic counterpart, COMSUBLANT.  Those instructions could be modified by s subordinate flotilla commander.

I hope you find this information helpful.